Having been involved professionally in the automotive repair and service industry since the 60’s I can comfortably say I have seen it all. Over the years a lot has changed… cars are much more advanced and technical than they once were which obviously has made a huge difference in the training and quality of professionalism. Back in the 60’s just about anyone with a few basic tools could perform almost any service or repair needed. Guys from the local gas station with names like Leroy, Bill or Jim could troubleshoot just anything the motorist needed and usually without a charge. As a result of today’s complex automobiles today’s diagnostic skills require far more experience and training than the Leroy’s Bill’s and Jim’s could ever offer.

Other than good service (a term used far too much these days) about the only thing that has remained a constant with regard to the auto industry is the consumers need to be very aware of who is advising them. Of course this topic is one we could write volumes about and the truth is in my opinion besides the fact that there is a legit reason for consumers to be cautious, what really needs to happen is that BOTH auto service/repair facilities AND consumers need to get educated. There is LOTS to learn and teach. It’s very common for a shop to have a good understanding as to what may or may not be required to keep an automobile performing at an optimum and reliable efficiency status but the consumer may not. For this reason the key word is “communication” and educating a consumer as to what might happen after words is also a key factor.
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Or are there? Some customers looking for a “deal” many times take it way too far. I agree that customers should in fact “shop” around when searching for an auto repair facility as well as ask questions related to their needs. Those questions should be, how familiar are you with my specific model of vehicle? How long have you been in business and more importantly how long has the tech that will be working at my car been in the business? Do you have references such as the Better Business Bureau and so on. Then give them permission to take a look at what your concerns are and allow them enough of an estimate to do a thorough inspection.

Customer’s should learn it’s very important to not shop all over the place every time they need something. Instead, the smartest way to get the most bang for your buck is to stop looking for the “deal” and begin looking for a shop that is qualified and one that can be trusted. Murphy’s Law says there will be days when something goes wrong, a defective part, improper install or the planets didn’t align or whatever. It’s at those times when the customer who moves around from shop to shop will not get the service they want. Why should a shop go the extra distance when they know this type of customer will probably not return? On the other hand, when a repair facility recognizes a quality customer it is much easier for them to say, “It’s all taken care of. No charge! Thank-you.” In the long run it will pay off ten fold.

Here is one of my favorite examples but keep in mind, this really isn’t all that uncommon from where I sit. One morning a man calls one of my shops and asks, “I have a brake problem on my van. How much to check it out and what will it cost to fix it?” I told him there would be no charge to inspect it but I could not give an estimate until I did. Then I told him, “Bring it in and we’ll check it it.” In retrospect I wish I hadn’t used those exact words. Later that afternoon my manager was standing in the lobby talking to a customer at the counter when all of a sudden all hell broke loose. Without any warning an old Ford van crashed right into the glass front of the store which sent glass… lots of glass, wood framing, a display of wheels and more all in the direction of my manager and customer.
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We’ve all seen it, from one side of the counter or another. The consumer receives a call with a report on repairs his car needs. The service adviser carefully explains that the flux capacitor has fused with the transmutator. It’s terminal and must be done to the tune of $1895 plus taxes Mr. Smith. The good news is that we have the parts in stock and you can pick the car up at 5. It is now 3:30.

Upon arrival, Mr. Smith looks at the invoice and the repair indeed cost $1895 plus taxes. The trouble is that there is 4 hours labour included in that $1895. This is when Mr. Smith goes off his nut. “How can you charge me 4 hours, when you only called with an estimate an hour and a half ago?”
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While I sit here mired in year end inventory preparations, let’s take a few moments out for a bit of a laugh courtesy of the folks at Atom Films.

Did you ever wish you could say exactly what’s on your mind? Me too!

When I was very young (I’m told by my parents) that I was obsessed with cars. I was always intrigued with how they worked.

I was 12 when I got my first car. It wasn’t much, but it allowed me to learn the mechanical and electronic functions of the car. Once I understood what each part was and its functions, the first thing that came to my mind is how can I make it better or faster.

It wasn’t until high school that I learned how difficult racing is. No one had a real sense of knowledge in the sport. I remember asking my shop teacher about it, and he had pulled me aside and asked me why I had an interest in racing. I explained to him that it captivated me and I wanted to get involved in it. Not much was said after that.

After that I would talking to classmates about racing and racing events. I found that most, if not all, the classmates that I talked to didn’t race or had any interest in it. I was on my own.

It wasn’t until I was 18 when I attended my first Autocross event. Understanding the cars behaviour and making the changes to improve the performance and efficiency is what drives me. After 4 years of Autocrossing, I had to put racing on hold and concentrate on my business.

After a long absence and closing the business, I got back into it. I started to compete in the SoloSprint Series. This is my second year with a new car, new people, and it’s exciting!

I had a few mechanical set backs with the car but I’m on track to finish the season.

How far would you go for your dream? Would you be willing to risk everything? That’s the question I ask myself every day.

I was asked to write about my experiences in automotive and racing. I’m tired of complaining about it; I’m ready to help make a difference.

I’m new to The Garage, and like many of you, I wasn’t born into racing. I caught the racing bug at a very young age. My father brought me to my first Auto Cross event when I was seven years old. I still remember that day. There was everything from Camaro’s to Austin Mini’s. The exhaust notes of a race car, and the sound if the occasional pylon getting hit, and the smells of burning tires and brakes are things I’ll never forget.
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Ask anyone how to get good service for your car, and one of the first suggestions you’ll hear is to find a good mechanic. That can be easier said than done, but I guess the first step is to ask around. Find who your friends and family are using. Haunt owners club message boards to see who people with cars like yours are using for service in your area.
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As a Service Manager, I’ve seen my share of stupid things. Often, some of the brightest guys make some of the most outlandish blunders and with this in mind I had a nice giggle at the story recounted by Joe Sherlock.

Brainless Mechanic: A friend sent this to me. I don’t know if the story is true or a joke. Or both. The writer is from Mississippi: When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door.

As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. “Hey,” I announced to the technician, “It’s open!” To which he replied, “I know - I already got that side.”

With the move to Mazda, life has changed around the Grant household, and my writing has changed with it. Leaving home at 6 am & not coming home till 8 ish every day (except for today…I was early at 7) doesn’t leave an awful lot of energy for anything. Being the freak that I am though, my mind is always running on like a slant six with bad gas. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t have more than a few automotive thoughts & for the next little while I think I’m going to share some of my rambling thoughts.

As I mentioned yesterday, my new ride is a Mazda 6 wagon. It’s got a V6, with a 5 speed manual tranny. It may be the nicest Volvo I’ve ever driven. Yep…you read right, this Mazda feels like a Volvo. Joe at My Ford Dreams has some thoughts about this platform concept, but I’m not even sure if this thing shares a platform. I’ll have to look into that.

We picked up the new Kart engine last weekend & I finally got a chance to do the swap tonight. It is now on the kart & it runs, but doesn’t idle worth a crap. Since I’ve used the carb from the old engine, I think I’ve just got a varnish issue which I’ll deal with before practice.

Did I mention that the Mazda 6 wagon is wide enough that a kart will fit in the back?

A tech I know was killed on his new motorcycle on Wednesday evening. Hit by a car when he swerved to avoid an animal. I don’t know what more to say than it’s very sad. He was a really nice guy and a good mechanic.

Tomorrow is my birthday & I don’t know if I’ll have time to write, but if I get any cool car stuff, I’ll be sure to post pics over the weekend.

Also, don’t forget to visit Mark at Tapscott Behind the Wheel tomorrow to check out the weekly Carnival of Cars.